Mitten



MITTEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3, 1959 INVENTORS, 064/1/ A? 5041 .4f/MM States MITTEN Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,861 '15 Claims. (Cl. 2-158) The present invention relates to a mitten, and more particularly to a work mitten which facilitates the carrying and handling of articles.

For ease of carrying and handling articles, it is desirable 'to provide a pocket -between the thumb and the other fingers of the hand which has a wide surface area to facilitate grasping and holding the article. Conventional gloves have the thumb receiving portion along one edge of the glove. Thus, the pocket provided between the thumb receiving portion of the conventional glove, and the other linger receiving portions of the glove is narrow. Furthermore, such conventional gloves can only be worn on one hand, so that the gloves must be provided in pairs, one glove for the right hand, and one glove for the left hand. Thus, if one glove of the pair becomes worn out before the other glove, or one glove is lost or mislaid, the remaining glove cannot be used, -but must be replaced with a new pair of gloves..

Another problem with regard to work gloves used for carrying and handling articles is that the gloves become Worn out relatively quickly.` Heretofore, the only manner of improving the usable life of a pair of gloves was by improving the durability of the material from which the gloves were made. However, improving the durability of the material of the gloves also increased latent the cost of the gloves considerably. Therefore, it is y desirable to have a glove which can be made from a rel atively inexpensive inaterial, but which will have a longer usable life.

It is an object or the present invention to provide a novel mitten.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a work mitten having a pocket of wide surface area between the thumb receiving portion and the linger receiving portion.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a mitten which can be worn on either hand.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mitten having a longer usable life.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Referring to the drawings in which similar character references refer to similar parts therethroughout:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mitten of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one side of the mitten of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the other side of the of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an end view of the mitten of the present invention.

Figures 5 through 8 are views similar to Figure 4 ilmitten 2,937,379 Patented May 24, 1960 ICC- lustrating various arrangements of the thumb receiving portions of the mitten of the present invention.

`Figure 9 is a sectional r-view takenalong line 9-9 of Figure 3.v

Figure 10 is a sectional View taken along line 10-10 of Figure 3.

Figure 1l is an end view of a modification of the mitten of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a-plan view of the shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of Figure 12. v

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14--14 of Figure 12. Referring initially to Figures 1-3, the mitten of the present invention is generally designated as 20. x Mitten 20 comprises four identical panels 22a, ZZ'b, 22e, Vand 22d. Each of the panels 22a-22d comprises a substantially rectangular body portion 24a-24d respectively, and a relatively truncated thumb portion 26a-26d respectively extending from one end of the body portion 24a-24d. The panels 22a-22d are preferably made of a circular knit terry cloth which has great abrasive and cutting resistance, and which is relatively inexpensive. However, the panels 22m-22d can `also be made of asbestos, leather, or any other durable material. The body portions 24a-24d of the panels 22a-22a' are all of the same width and length, and the thumb portions 26a-26d `are all of the same size and shape. The base of each of the thumb portions 26a-26d extends across the entire width of its respective base portion 24a-24d.

'The body portions 24a and 24b of panels 22a and 221; are sewn together along separate seams which extend along the sides of the body portions 24o and 24h, with `the thumb portions 26a and 2Gb of the panels 22a and 22]) extending in the same direction. The body portions 24e and- 24d of panels 22e and 22d are sewn together along separate seams which extend along the sides of the body portions 24C and 24d, with the thumb portions 26e and 26d of the panels 22C and 22d extending in the same direction. The thumb portions 26a and 26e of panels 22a and 22e are sewn together along a continuous seam which extends alongthe sides and end of the thumb portions 26a and 26e. The thumb portions 26b and 26d of panels 22b and 22d are sewn together along a continuous seam which extends along the sides and end of the thumb portions 2611 and 26a. The thumb portions 26h and 26d of the panels 22e and 22d are sewn to the thumb portions 26a and 2Gb respectively of the panels 22a and 22h so that the seams joining the sides of the body portions 24e and 24d form colinear extensions of the seams joining the sides of the body portions 24a and 24b. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the seams joining the Various panels 24a-24d are formed by folding under the edges of the panels 24a- 24d, and sewing together the mating folded-under edges by lines of stitching which are inside the mitten 20. Since the lines of stitching joining the panels 22a-22d of the mitten v20 are inside the mitten 20, the stitching is protected from being worn or damaged during the use of the mitten 20. Y

An elastic band 28 extends across the body portion 24a of the panel 22a spaced from the base of the linger portion 26a. The ends of the elastic band 28 are sewn into the seams joining the body portions 24o and 24h of the panels 22a and 22b. An elastic band 30 extends across the body portion 24c of panel 22C spaced from the base of the thumb portion 26e. The ends'of the elastic band 30 are sewn into the seams joining the body portions 24o and 24d of the panels 22e and 22d.

front of the mitten Thus, as shown in Figure 4, the mitten 20 of the present invention has a pair of colinear body portions, generally designated as 32 and 34, the outer ends 32a and 34a of which are open, and two separate thumb receiving portions, generally designated as 36 and 38, intermediate the outer open ends 32a and 34a of the body portions 32 and 34. The body portion 32 of mitten 20 is formed by the body portions 24a and 24b of the panels 22a and 22b, and the body portion 34 is formed by the body portions 24C and 24d of the panels 22e and 22d. The thumb receiving portion 36 extends along one side of the mitten 20 and is formed by the thumb portions 26a and 26C of the panels 22a and 22C. The thumb receiving portion 38 extends along the other side of the mitten 20, and is formed by the thumb portions 26b and 26d of the panels 22b and 22d.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown one arrangement of the thumb receiving portions 36 and 38 of the mitten 20 in which the mitten 20 can be used. The thumb receiving portion 36 is laid at against the body portion 32, and is tucked under the elastic band 28. The thumb receiving portion 38 is folded to extend along the body portion 34. The user inserts his hand into the open end 32a of the body portion 32, and places his thumb receiving portion 38, and his other fingers into the body portion 34. Since the thumb receiving portion 38 is relatively wide, and extends across the side of the body portion 34, the user can place either hand in the mitten 20. Also, since the base of the thumb receiving portion 38 extends across the entire width of the body portion 34, there is provided a pocket between the thumb receiving portion 38 and the body portion 34, which receives the other ngers of the hand, which has a wide surface area to facilitate grasping and holding an article. When using the mitten Z arranged in the manner shown in Figure 5, the panel 22d of the mitten 20 provides the working surface of the mitten 20. When the panel 22d becomes worn out through long continuous use, the thumb receiving portions 36 and 38 of the mitten 20 can be rearranged to the position shown in Figure 6 to permit further use of the mitten 20. Y

Referring to Figure 6, the mitten 20 is rearranged to permit further use of the mitten 20 by removing the thumb receiving portion 36 from under the elastic band 38, and pivoting the thumb receiving portion 36 until the thumb receiving portion 36 extends along the body portion 34. The thumb receiving portion 36 is then tucked under the elastic band 30. The thumb receiving portion 38 is pivoted until it extends along the body portion 32. The user then inserts his hand into the open end 34a of body portion 34, and positions his thumb in the thumb receiving portion 38, and his other fingers in the body portion 32. In this arrangement of the mitten 20, the panel 22b of the mitten 20 provides the working surface of the mitten 20. When the panel 22b of the mitten 20 also becomes worn out through long continuous use, the thumb receiving portions 36 and 38 can be further rearranged to the position shown in Figure 7 to permit still further use of the mitten 20.

`Referring to Figure 7, the mitten 20 is further rearranged by removing the thumb receiving portion 36 from under the elastic band 30, and pivoting the thumb receiving portion 36 until it extends along the body portion 32. Elastic band 28 is pulled around the outer end of the body portion 32 until the elastic band 28 extends across the other side of the body portion 32. The elastic band 30 is pulled around the outer end of the body portion 34 until the elastic band 30 extends across the other side of the body portion 34. Thumb receiving portion 38 is pivoted until it extends along the body portion 34, and is tucked under the elastic band 30. The user can then insert his hand into the open end 34a of the body portion 34, and place his thumb in the thumb receiving portion 36, and his other ngers in the body portion 32. In this arrangement of the mitten 20, the panel 4 22a provides the working surface of the mitten 20. When the panel 22a also becomes worn out through long continuous use, the thumb portions 36 and 38 of the mitten 20 can be still further rearranged to the position shown in Figure 8 to permit still further use of the mitten 20.

Referring to Figure 8, the nal arrangement of the mitten 20 is obtained by removing the thumb receiving portion 38 from under the elastic band 30, and pivoting the thumb receiving portion 38 until it extends along the body portion 32. The thumb receiving portion 38 is then tucked under the elastic band 28. The thumb receiving portion 36 is pivoted until it extends along the body portion 34. The user can then insert his hand into the open end 32a of body portion 32, and place his thumb in the thumb receiving portion 36, and his other iingers in the body portion 34. In this arrangement of the mitten 20, the panel 22C provides the working surface of the mitten.

Since the mitten 20 of the present invention has two thumb receiving portions and two openings into which the users hand can be inserted, the mitten 20 provides four separate working surfaces. Thus, the mitten 20 of the present invention has a usable life four times the life of a conventional glove made of the same material. Since both of the thumb receiving portions 36 and 38 are relatively wide and extend across the faces of the body portions 32 and 34, the mitten 20 can be used on either hand in all four arrangements of the mitten 20. Also, since the bases of the thumb receiving portions 36 and 38 extend across the entire width of the body portions 32 and 34, there is provided a pocket of wide surface area between the thumb receiving portion and the body portion, which receives the other ngers of the hand, in all four arrangements of the mitten 20 to facilitate grasping and holding an article.

Figures 11-14 show a modification of the mitten of the present invention, generally designated as 40. Mitten 40 comprises a substantially rectangular back panel 42, and a pair of identical front panels 44a and 44b.

Each of the front panels 44a and 44b comprises a substantially rectangular body portion 46a and 46b respectively, and a substantially truncated thumb portion 48a and 48b extending from one end of the body portions 46a and 46b respectively. The body portions 46a and 46b of the front panels 44a and 44b are of the same width as the back panel 42, and the thumb portions 48a and 48b are of the same size and shape. The base of each of the thumb portions 48a and 48h extend along the entire width of the respective body portions 46a and 46b.

The thumb portions 48a and 48b of the front panels 44a and 44b are sewn together along a continuous seam which extends along the sides and end of the thumb portions 48a and 48b. The body portions 46a and 46b of the front panels 44a and 44b are sewn to the back panel 42 along separate seams which extend along the sides of the body portions 46aA and 46b and the back panel 42. The seams joining the body portion 46a of front panel 44a to the back panel 42 are colinear with the seams joining the body portion 46b of front panel 44b to the back panel 42. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the seams joining the panels 42, 44a, and 44b are formed by turning over the edges of the panels, and sewing together the mating turned-over edges by lines of stitching which are within the mitten 40. Since the lines of stitching joining the panels 42, 44a and 44b are within the mitten 40, the lines of stitching are protected against being worn or damaged during the use of the mitten 40. Thus, the mitten 40 has two colinear body portions, the outer ends of which are open, and a thumb receiving portion intermediate the outer open ends of the body portions, which thumb receiving portion extends along the front side of the mitten 40.

The panels 42, 44a, and 44b are made of the same material. However, since the front panels 44a and` 44b proi l'vide the working surfaces of the 'mitten 40, the` front panelsI 44a and 44h are made 4of a thicker and heavier quality of the material (see Figure v14,). The panels 42, 44a, and 44'b are preferably made tif-a circular 'knit terry cloth which ,has great abrasive and cutting resistance, 'and which is relatively inexpensive.` However, the panels can also be made of asbestos, leather, or any other durable material. Y

In the use of the mitten 40, the thumb receiving portion is pivoted to extend along the body portion 46a of front panel 44a. The user inserts his hand into the open end of the body portion formed by the body portion 46b of the front panel 44b and the back panel 42, and places his thumb in the thumb receiving portion and his other fingers in the body portion formed by the body portion 46a of front panel 44a and the back panel 42. Since the thumb receiving portion is relatively wide and extends across the body portion 46a of front panel 44a, the user can place either hand in the mitten 40. Also, since the base of the thumb receiving portion extends across the entire width of the body portion, there is provided a pocket between the thumb receiving portion and the body portion which contains the other fingers of the hand which has a wide surface area to facilitate grasping and holding an article.

When using the mitten 40 arranged in the manner shown in solid lines in Figures l1 and 12, the front panel 44a provides the working surface of the mitten 40. When the front panel 44a becomes worn out through long continuous use, the mitten 40 can be rearranged to use the front panel 44b as the working surface of the mitten 40. As shown in dotted lines in Figures 11 and 12, the mitten 40 is so rearranged by pivoting the thumb receiving portion until it extends along vthe body portion 4611 of front panel 44b. The user can then insert his hand into the open end of the body portion of the'mitten 40 formed by the body portion 46a of front panel 44a and the back panel 42, and place his thumb Vin the thumb receiving portion and his other lingers in the body portion of the mitten 40 formed by the body portion 46b of the front panel 44b and the back panel 42. Thus, the mitten 40 has two separate working surfaces, so that the mitten y40 has a usable life twice the life of a conventional glove made of the same material.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific Y forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be madero the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing speciication as indicating the scope of the invention We claim:

l. A mitten comprising a pair of colinear substantially tubular body portions joined at their inner ends and having open outer ends, and a thumb receiving portion integral with and extending across one side of said body portions intermediate the outer open ends of the body portions, said thumb receiving portion being pivotable to extend along either of said body portions.

2. A mitten in accordance with claim 1 in which the base of the thumb receiving portion extends across the entire width of said body portions.

3 A mitten comprising a pair of colinear substantially tubular body portions joined at their inner ends and having open outer ends, and a pair of thumb receiving portions integral with said body portions intermediate the outer ends of said body portions, one of said thumb receiving portions extending across one side of said body portions, and the other thumb receiving portion extending across the other side of the body portions.

4. A mitten in accordance with claim 3 in which the base of each of the thumb receiving portions extends across the entire width of said body portions.

5. A mitten in accordance with claim 4 including an elastic band secured to one of said body portions and 'extending across one side of said one body portion, and

zeeman a second elastic'band `secured tothe other of said body portions andextending across vone's'ide'of said other bodyPortion-V 6.- A mitten comprisingaj first pair of identicalpanels, each of1-said panels hayinga bodyl portion and a lthumb portion extending from one end of the body portion, the body portions of said iirst pair of panels being sewn together along the sides of the body portions with the thumb portions of said first pair of panels extending in the same direction, a second pair of identical panels, each of the panels of said second pair having a body portion and a thumb portion extending from one end of the body portion, the body portions of said second pair of,l

panels being sewn together along the sides of the body portions with the thumb portions of said second pair of panels extending in the same direction, and the thumb portion of each of the panels of said rst pair of panels being sewn to a separate one of the thumb portions of the panels of the second pair along the sides and end of the thumb portions to provide two separate thumb receiving portions intermediate the outer ends of the body portions.

7. A mitten in accordance with claim 6 in which the body portions of each of said panels are of the same width, and the thumb portions of each of said panels are substantially truncated and are of the same size andA shape.

8. A mitten in accordance with claim 7 in which the base of the thumb portion of each of said panels extends across the entire width of the body portions of the panels.

9. A mitten in accordance with claim 6 in which the joined edges of each of said panels are folded under, and the mating folded-under edges of the panels are sewn together by lines of stitching which are inside the mitten.

10. A mitten in accordance with claim 6 including a rst elastic band extending across the body portion of one of the panels of said rst pair of panels with the ends of said elastic band being sewn into the seams joining the sides of the body portions of said first pair of panels, and a second elastic band extending across the body portion of one of the panels of said second pair of panels with the ends of said second elastic band being sewn into the seams joining the sides of the body portions of said second pair of panels.

1l. A mitten comprising a substantially rectangular back panel and a pair of identical front panels, each yof said front panels having a substantially rectangular body portion and a thumb portion extending from one end of the body portion, the thumb portions of said front panels being sewn together along the edges of said thumb portions to form a thumb receiving portion, and each of the body portions of said front panels being sewn to the back panel along the sides of said body portions and back panel to form a pair of colinear substantially tubular portions having open outer ends with the thumb receiving portion being intermediate the outer ends of the tubular portions.

12. A mitten in accordance with claim 11 in which the body portion of each of said front panels is of the same width as the back panel, and the thumb portions of each of the front panels are substantially truncated and of the same size and shape.

13. A mitten in accordance with claim 12 in which the base of each of the thumb portions of the front panels extends across the entire width of the body portions of the front panels.

14. A mitten in accordance with claim 1l in which the joined edges of each of said panels are folded under,

and the mating folded-under edges of the panels are sewn together by lines of stitching which are inside the mitten. l5. A mitten in accordance with claim 11v in which I the front panels are of a heavier material than the material of the back panel.

(References on following page) [FOREIGN PATENTS' Gexfmany Aug. 23, `1938 

